Chapter Twenty-Three

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James followed Geoffrey to a steel door at the end of the hallway. When Geoffrey pulled it open, the squealing of metal echoed through the basement. Inside, James was a little taken aback to see Bo's son, Kaine, sitting at a large oak desk. Beside him stood a woman in a white robe that appeared to glow under the fluorescent lights.

"James." Kaine grinned, reaching his hand over and giving James a firm handshake. The woman in the robe nodded but did not speak. "This is Beverly Koil, voice of our guardian angel."

"Wait, Beverly—Matt's mom?" James exclaimed, unable to contain the obvious shock in his voice. Bane and Cat had never said anything...he had to wonder if they already knew. Perhaps that was why they so eagerly turned the blonde over. It was no secret Bane hated that Komazzi took pity on the boy. Maybe he was hoping for a family reunion.

"I don't have a son," Beverly growled, before her voice changed to what sounded like a man's voice. "We don't have time for this. I want to make you an offer, and should you choose to accept it, you will be a very powerful man in the new government."

"What is going on?" James asked, staring at the woman in confusion. He had been asked to find out what was going on, but he hadn't expected what looked to be an angel possession.

"I am Michael, bringer of light. We understand this is a lot to digest, however, we cannot allow the Nephilims Catherine and Banier to take over. There is a reason we extinguish all Nephilims as soon as they are born. They are too dangerous and unpredictable to allow to walk the earth once they grow up. They are also near impossible to destroy after they get their full powers," the male voice continued. Beverly had frozen, as though she had no control of her body.

"My sister Gabriel made a serious mistake covering up Catherine's birth, and she has paid for her sins. Catherine's father, Asmodeus, kept her hidden from us for thousands of years before we were able to lure her here through Giovanni Kaliwse," Michael went on. "Little did we know, the Devil had produced his own Nephilim and bound it to Catherine. Making Banier her eternal protector."

"So you're trying to finish the job you started, and want my help?" James questioned skeptically, his head swimming with this new information. He had known how powerful they were, but this was far crazier than he'd imagined. Also, what did Michael mean they were bonded? Did Cat and Bane expect Michael to reveal all of this, and just wanted James' reaction to be genuine, or had they planned to keep their true identity secret?

"We want you to help us bring their horrific reign to an end by being a pretender in their ranks, and reporting back to us anything that might help us catch them," Michael said, putting Beverly's hand on James' shoulder. "We can make your wildest dreams come true. Just tell me what it would take for you to become a godly crusader."

"Do all angels talk like this? Can't you just say, 'hey, would you spy on Cat for us, because she scares us?' Seriously, you use way too many words." James laughed, sitting in a plush rolling chair and putting his feet on Kaine's desk. For a moment, he thought he saw Beverly's eyes flash red.

"She does not scare us. Catherine is an insolent child, but would be able to sense our presence and stop us before we completed our task," Michael continued. "Do not be fooled. Catherine only cares about herself and power. Your lust for her is just another spell she's using to control your actions and emotions."

"Cool, is this where I take the red pill and see how deep the rabbit hole goes?" James grinned, ignoring the stink eye he was getting from Kaine.

"This is not the Matrix, this is your reality. If you were smart, you wouldn't be making jokes," Kaine growled, pushing James' feet off the desk.

"No, Kaine, he is right to be skeptical. To earn his trust, we need to show him what we can offer," Michael insisted, waving Beverly's hand; a tray appeared with an assortment of snacks and drinks on it. James had worked for Bane long enough to know never to take any food or drinks he was offered. "Please take something, I insist."

"Sorry, I ate before I came," James stated, pushing the tray away. "If you want me to drink the Kool-Aid, I need real facts, not this vengeance bullshit."

"James, you have personally seen the terror and destruction Catherine brings. Are you telling me that you would not stop her if you could?" Michael asked. James rolled his eyes and began twirling in his chair.

"Terror? Seriously, have you seen the swag Cat gives us? Cars, a place to live, a cool phone, literally unlimited access to everything in town," James said, spinning in the chair again. Kaine grabbed the chair, stopping him mid-spin. "Come on, don't be a buzzkill. I was having fun."

"You aren't taking this seriously!" Kaine yelled before Michael cut him off.

"We can give you anything you desire; the unreleased iPhone, the latest Tesla car, a mansion, you name it, and it's yours. All you have to do is continue doing your job while watching Catherine for any weaknesses," Michael insisted, grabbing James' hand and kneeling beside him. "Please assist us in bringing this town back to the heavens."

"I want a video game room with every game and console ever made," James demanded. He could not wait to report back to Cat what he had discovered. She would certainly reward him. "I also want one favor to be cashed in later for anything. Rumor has it, an angel cannot break a vow."

"That is ludicrous. I would never agree to that," Michael snapped. "The video game room only. Take it, or leave it."

"Two favors, and the video game room, because I know you are completely out of other cards to play if you're coming to me. You really aren't in a position to barter, because by the sound of it, you're pretty desperate." James said, kicking his feet back onto the desk.

"Done." Michael sighed, holding out a perfectly manicured hand.

James shook it firmly. Hopefully, Cat would be able to forgive him. Before he could ask more questions, a sudden, sharp pain surged through his head.

* * *

Komazzi inhaled the cigarette smoke deeply. He couldn't believe he had allowed Bane and Cat to use his son as bait. The house was eerily quiet. Rose had spent the weekend with him, but went home Monday morning to get ready for her shift at the hotel. The front door creaked open, and a familiar smell wafted through the house...Cat. Something about her scent brought him comfort and calm, even when it shouldn't. "What do you want?"

"I came over to see how you're doing," Cat insisted, shoving a pile of papers over to sit on his oak desk. Her tight red top hugged her figure, and her long black skirt cascaded to the floor; a slit almost to her hip allowed her leg and lacy underwear to be visible. She clearly chose to sit on his desk for a reason.

"I'm really not in the mood," Komazzi grumbled, motioning for her to move to one of his plush armchairs. Her high-heeled foot ran up his leg, and he quickly moved out of her reach. "Why are you really here, Cat? Don't pretend for one minute you care about how I feel."

"Fine, you caught me. I was hungry, and without Mattie around, you're the next best thing." Cat grinned, slithering onto his lap. He stood up and pulled her to her feet.

"This isn't a joke, and I think you should leave," Komazzi snapped, shoving Cat toward the door.

"I love it when you get rough." Cat laughed, flipping around to face Komazzi. "Stop being such a pussy. Matt is going to be fine. James will pull him out when the time comes."

"You have no right..." Komazzi stopped mid-sentence, hearing another set of footsteps in the house. "Who did you bring with you?"

"No one, I was honestly just checking on you," Cat whispered, pulling a knife from the sheath on her leg. She motioned for Komazzi to follow her as she crept into the hallway.

Shadows danced across the walls, and the scent of the blood of several humans filled the house. It was impossible to know how many were there. Normally, she wouldn't run from a fight, but they were clearly outnumbered by someone who knew how to sneak in unnoticed. Suddenly, she felt it...angel magic. The door was wide open. Cat dove toward it but was hit with something that exploded, causing a magical cage to surround her.

Komazzi followed the object to Cat's assailant and darted toward him, tackling him in a frenzy. All the anger toward Bane for Matt's condition was directed at the man as Komazzi ripped him apart limb from limb. Blood sprayed across his face, and Komazzi's tongue ran across his lips. Tasting fresh blood only increased his desire to kill.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Cat struggling to release herself from the cage. Another man leaped onto Komazzi's back, stabbing him in the shoulder with a wooden stake.

Komazzi slammed the man against the wall; a sickening thud echoed through the house as the man's neck snapped, and he hit the floor. Several more people dressed in black began pouring out of every area in the house. There must have been fifty of them. Komazzi did his best to fend them off, but a shot rang out behind him.

He turned around to see a bullet flying out of Cat's back. She fell to the ground, grabbing her stomach and letting out an ungodly howl of pain.

Something heavy hit Komazzi in the back of the head, and he fell forward. He quickly fought to roll over, just in time to see a woman with a silver stake hurling toward him at an inhuman pace. He caught the woman's arms, but somehow she overpowered him, driving the stake toward his heart. It finally made contact, searing his flesh.

There was a thunderous crack and a flash of light. Komazzi's eyes made out a dark figure. Komazzi's vision faded in and out as the shadowy form ran toward Cat's cage. When the humans charged it, black-feathered wings popped out, blocking their attacks.

"Release her, now! This is your only chance!" Bane's voice rang out. The sound of more firearms being fired echoed around them. There was a loud metallic thud of what sounded like metal hitting the wood floors. That's when Komazzi heard a demonic cackle bouncing around the room. "I was so hoping you would do that."

Screaming surrounded them as the humans began scattering and running toward the doors. Bodies went flying around the room, while ice covered the dead. Bane flapped his wings and several humans became impaled on the various statues in the room.

After what seemed like an hour, Komazzi saw Bane's face as he leaned over him and pulled out the stake. Cutting his own hand open, Bane dripped his blood into Komazzi's wound. Komazzi felt a sharp pain as it started to heal.

"Help me get Cat back to headquarters. The Board will be able to help her better than just us," Bane insisted, lifting Cat into his arms. "You'll need to drive. I can't teleport us both, and I won't leave her alone."

Speechless, Komazzi gazed at the motionless body of the Nephilim goddess. He had always seen her as too powerful to be struck down. Now, her chest no longer rose and fell, her heart no longer beat against her ribcage. Her eyes had turned from green to pitch-black.

Bane placed a gentle kiss against her forehead, and Komazzi saw her hand twitch. Numbly, Komazzi hurried to the car and sped off with Cat and Bane toward Crimson Inc.

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